Hong Kong’s next Chief Govt will be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who is the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime put up, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief government.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Lee, the one candidate for Hong Kong's top put up, received 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee solid their votes to select the brand new chief. Lee only wanted a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative area of China which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's ruled underneath the "one nation, two methods" framework, and has limited election rights and a mostly separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by a major overhaul final year after Beijing said that only so-called "patriots" must be allowed to govern the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency might be "challenged by the lack of electoral mandate and legitimacy in the eyes of some people."

His reply was that his election was "run in accordance with the legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

"Anyone, who in accordance with the legislation is qualified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Pointing out that he garnered more than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that number of help, of course, it encourages me and provides me the robust confidence that my path is agreed and shared by plenty of election committee members."

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been picked to be the town's subsequent chief government.

Bloomberg | Getty Images

In a word last week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the next Hong Kong chief.

"The collection of Lee, a profession police officer who performed a number one function in the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, indicates that Beijing's prime priority for Hong Kong is sustaining political safety quite than preserving its function as a dynamic global hub," they mentioned.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world monetary and enterprise center to playing a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "Whereas the dangers to political and monetary stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to answer a serious shock."

According to China's Covid-19 coverage, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its unfold. The city tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, however started easing barely in late April.

The election was earlier postponed on account of a surge in Covid instances within the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear level that I am very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is an important thing for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief government

On the press convention, Lee was also requested how he'll show the worldwide neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for enterprise.

"Sure, we have challenges now because of the need to control Covid-19 and a number of the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a really clear point that I'm very aware of the have to be accessible to the world. And likewise it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal journey with the mainland."

He said he can be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to search out out what are the situations that shall be required for normal journey to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee also referred to as on citizens to comply with the advice and measures of the government, and stated the town will search to spice up its vaccination rate. In accordance with government statistics, greater than 91% of the population above the age of 12 have obtained their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have obtained their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief govt Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I extend my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she mentioned in a press launch. "The present-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Govt-elect. We'll render all the assist needed for the idea of office by the new term of government."

Correction: This story has been up to date to replicate that John Lee gained 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief executive election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that determine.